Waist mounted targets and tethered balls

ABSTRACT

A recreational toy for two cooperating players which includes a first waist-attached device including a tethered ball for one player and a second waist-attached device defining a plurality of different sized openings therein for receiving the ball. The first player manipulates his waist to swing the ball upwardly to the level of the second player&#39;&#39;s waist, and the second player manipulates his body to catch the ball in one of the openings of his device.

United States Patent [191 Walker, Jr.

[ 51 Nov. 27, 1973 WAIST MOUNTED TARGETS AND TETIIERED BALLS Wilmer David Walker, Jr., 1316 Sharon St, NW., Atlanta, Ga. 30314 Filed: Oct. 26, 1971 Appl. No.: 192,063

Inventor:

US. Cl. 273/95 A, 273/DIG. l9 1 Int. Cl A63b 71/02 Field of Search 273/95 A, 97 R, 98, 273/101, DIG. 17-19, 1 R

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 10/1971 Haroski 273/98 2/1934 Lathers.... 273/97 R 10/1970 Foley 273/] R FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,238,985 7/1960 France 273/97 R Primary Examiner-Richard C. Pinkham Assistant ExaminerMarvin Siskind Attorney-I-Iarold D. Jones, Jr. et a1.

[57] ABSTRACT A recreational toy for two cooperating players which includes a first waist-attached device including a tethered ball for one player and a second waist-attached device defining a plurality of different sized openings therein for receiving the ball. The first player manipulates his waist to swing the ball upwardly to the level of the second playerswaist, and the second player manipulates his body to catch the ball in one of the openings of his device.

4 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures PATENTEI] HOV 2 7 I975 FIG 2 WAIST MOUNTED TARGETS AND TETHERED BALLS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION At social gatherings where both men and women are in attendance, it is sometimes difficult to have the people participate in social activities where both men and women are involved since many people are reluctant to communicate or participate in a game with others. It is believed that if the people attending such social gatherings are provided with a recreational toy or game where two persons are required to participate as a team in competition with other teams the inhibitions of the people are quickly overcome when the game is begun since both the participants and observers tend to concentrate on the game instead of upon themselves or others. i

It is believed that games involving body participation as well as mental skill are highly successful with young persons and causes the young people to be more willing to mix and communicate with each other.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly described, the present invention comprises a recreational toythat allows two people to participate as a team in a game and the score of the game can be kept so that teams of pairs of people can compete for a higherscore during a set time limit. The toy comprises a tether ball connected to the end of a steam projecting from the waist of a first player and a ball receiving member connected to a stem supported from the waist of a second player. The first player attempts to swing or otherwise elevate the ball at the end of his tether in an upward direction so that the second player can place his ball receiving member in a position where the ball will be caught or received by the second player. The ball receiving means includes a plurality of openings therein which are varied in size so that it is more difficult to receive the ball in the smaller openings, and scoring indicia are applied to the ball receiving means with higher scores being applied to the smaller openings.

Thus, it is an object of the present inventionto provide a recreational toy for use by two players as a team in a competitive game with other teams, wherein the toy induces its participants to play a game requiring skill, concentration and athletic ability.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the recreational toy.

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of the recreational toy as it might be used by two players.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED'EMBODIMENT Referring now in more detail to the drawing, in which like numerals indicate like parts in both views, FIG. 1 shows recreational toy which comprises a first device ll for attachment to the abdomen at the waist of a first player and a second device 12 for attachment to the abdomen at the waist of a second player. First device ll comprises a slightly curved waist plate 14 and an elastic belt 15 connected to the waist plate for attachment about the waist of the first player. The waist plate 14 and belt 15 function as a support member, and the curvature of waist plate 14 is rather shallow and suitable for abutment with the stomach area of the first player. Elastic belt 15 is adjustable by means of a plurality of snaps 16, and the belt is attached to waist plate 14 by threading it through slots 17 defined in opposite edges of the waist plate.

Stem 18 is connected at one of its ends to waist plate 14 and projects outwardly from the waist plate. A hook and eye connection 19 is formed at the outer end of stem 18, with the eye 20 connected to the outer end of stem 18 and the hook 21 connected to the eye. A string 22 functions as a tether and is connected at one of its ends to hook 21. Ball member 23 is connected to the other end of string 22. In its preferred embodiment, ball member23 comprises a resilient spherical ball of a size and weight sufficient to provide a mass suitable for swinging by the first player, but not so heavy or so big so as to be difficult to swing or be a hazard to the players or their surroundings. Likewise, stem 18 is of sufficient length to allow the first player to have enough leverage to swing the ball member, and string 22 is of sufficient length to allow the ball member 23 to swing away from the player but is not so long as to allow the ball to bounce against the floor when the first device 1 1 is attached to a player of average height. Of course, string 22 can be shortened for shorter players.

Second device 12 comprises waist plate 24 which is similar to waist plate 14 and elastic belt 25 which is similar to belt 15 so that the waist plate and belt form a support member. Belt 25 also includes a plurality of snaps 26 so that the belt diameter is adjustable for different sized players, and the belt is threaded through the slots 27 in the waist plate 24.

Stem 28 is connected at one of its ends to waist plate 24 and projects outwardly from the waist plate. Circular platform 29 is connected to the outer end of stem 28 and is normally maintained in an approximately horizontal attitude by the second player. A plurality of openings 30 are formed in platform 29, with the openings being of different sizes. Scoring indicia 31 is applied to the platform 29 adjacent each of the openings 30, with the smaller openings having the higher scoring indicia applied adjacent thereto. Thus, circular platform 29, its openings 30, and stem 28 form a ball member receiving means for the second player. While the three openings 30 have been illustrated as passing completely through the circular platform 29, it will be understood that fewer or more openings can be provided and the openings can be formed as recesses in the circular platform and would therefore not allow the ball member 23 to completely pass through the platform but function to catch the ball.

As is illustrated in FIG. 2, the recreational toy is enjoyed byfirst player 30 attaching the first device 11 to her waist, with the waist plate 14 attached to the front of her waist so that the stem 18 projects outwardly from the front of the player. The first player 30 manipulates her torso so as to swing or otherwise project the ball member 23 in an upward direction at or above the waist level of the second player 31. The second player 31 has attached to his waist the second device 12 with the waist plate 24 positioned at the front of his waist and with the stem 28 projecting. outwardly from his body. The second player attempts to catch the ball member 23 in one of the openings 30 of circular platform 29, preferably in the smaller opening with the higher scoring indicia, by manipulating his abdomen to move the circular platform to the area where the ball 24 descends after having being projected by the first player 30. When the ball is received in one of the open.- ings 30, it will pass completely therethrough with the string 22 extending back through the hole. With this arrangement, the players and the observers of the game will know positively which openings through which the ball member passed and there will be no mistake in the scoring of the game. I

As is illustrated in FIG. 1, the second device 12 also includes a closed eye 32 located at the outer edge of circular platform 29. Hook 21 of the string 22 can be disconnected from the eye of first device 11 and connected to the eye 32 of the second device 12. With the toy arranged in this manner, a single player can play a game wherein he both projects the ball member 23 in an upward direction and attempts to catch or receive the ball member through one of the openings in the circular platform 29.

While this invention has been described in detail with particular reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention as described hereinbefore and as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A recreational toy comprising first and second cooperating devices including a first device attachable to the abdomen of a first player and manipulatable by movement of the body of the first player without the use of the hands of the first player, said first device consisting of a first support means attachable to the waist of the abdomen of the first player, stem means connected at one of its ends to and extending outwardly from said first support means, a tether connected at one of its ends to the outer end of said stem means, and a ball member connected to the other end of said tether, a second device attachable to the abdomen of a second player and manipulatable by movement of the body of the second player without the use of the hands of the second player, said second device consisting of a second support means attachable to the waist of the abdomen of the second player, a ball member receiving means connected to and extending outwardly from said second support means, said ball member receiving means defining a plurality of openings therein of graduated sizes, with a first one of said openings being slightly larger than the outside diameter of said ball member to permit said ball member to pass through said opening, and with the other openings being larger than said first one of said openings to permit said ball member to pass more easily therethrough, whereby the first player manipulates his body to swing the ball member upwardly toward the second player, and the second player manipulates his body in an attempt to receive the ball member of the first player in an opening of the ball member receiving means.

2. The recreational toy of claim 1 and further including scoring indicia adjacent each of the openings of said ball member receiving means, said scoring indicia indicating higher values for smaller openings than for larger openings.

3. The recreational toy of claim 1 and wherein said ball member receiving means includes a substantially flat upper surface, and said plurality of openings ex tending entirely through said ball member receiving means.

4. The recreational toy of claim 1 and further including means for connecting said tether and ball member to said ball member receiving means of said second device. 

1. A recreational toy comprising first and second cooperating devices including a first device attachable to the abdomen of a first player and manipulatable by movement of the body of the first player without the use of the hands of the first player, said first device consisting of a first support means attachable to the waist of the abdomen of the first player, stem means connected at one of its ends to and extending outwardly from said first support means, a tether connected at one of its ends to the outer end of said stem means, and a ball member connected to the other end of said tether, a second device attachable to the abdomen of a second player and manipulatable by movement of the body of the second player without the use of the hands of the second player, said second device consisting of a second support means attachable to the waist of the abdomen of the second player, a ball member receiving means connected to and extending outwardly from said second support means, said ball member receiving means defining a plurality of openings therein of graduated sizes, with a first one of said openings being slightly larger than the outside diameter of said ball member to permit said ball member to pass through said opening, and with the other openings being larger than said first one of said openings to permit said ball member to pass more easily therethrough, whereby the first player manipulates his body to swing the ball member upwardly toward the second player, and the second player manipulates his body in an attempt to receive the ball member of the first player in an opening of the ball member receiving means.
 2. The recreational toy of claim 1 and further including scoring indicia adjacent each of the openings of said ball member receiving means, said scoring indicia indicating higher values for smaller openings than for larger openings.
 3. The recreational toy of claim 1 and wherein said ball member receiving means includes a substantially flat upper surface, and said plurality of openings extending entirely through said ball member receiving means.
 4. The recreational toy of claim 1 and further including means for connecting said tether and ball member to said ball member receiving means of said second device. 